34. Bears, Bears, and More Bears by Jackie Morris

Bibliographic Citation:

Morris, Jackie. Bears, Bears, and More Bears. Hauppauge, NY: Barron's Educational Series, Inc., 1995. 32 p. ISBN 978-0812093490.

Awards/Selection Lists:

None

Format Examined:
Paperback

Annotation:

Different kinds of bears are identified through simple text. 

Personal Reaction:
Glossy pages of beautiful water color illustrations are used to show different types of bears in their natural habitat. Simple, large, black text is printed on each page to describe what each type of bear looks like and/or does. Real bears are shown throughout the book until the teddy bear at the end with a child. Children who have stuffed bears will identify with this book, and narrative skills can be encouraged due to the simple text of the book. 

Age Recommendation:

I would recommend this book for children 3-5 years of age.

Themes/Issues:

Bears, habitat, hibernation, climate

Early Literacy Skill Value:

Letter Knowledge: 
Letter knowledge is not a direct focus of this book, but letter identification can be encouraged through the simple lines that are printed on each page.

Narrative Skills: 
Narrative skills can be encouraged through the identification of the different types of bears and the simple text. 

Phonological Awareness: 
Phonological awareness is not a direct focus of this book.

Print Awareness:
Simple text in a plain black font draws attention to the text on each page.

Print Motivation: 
Children who like bears will identify with this book, and enjoy looking at the pictures and retelling the story on their own.

Vocabulary:
Words that describe bears are used throughout the book. Lifestyles of bears are portrayed an offer an opportunity to build vocabulary, including hibernation, climate, types of bears, and colors of bears.



Author/ Illustrator Website:
http://www.jackiemorris.co.uk/blog/

26. When Will it be Spring by Catherine Walters

Bibliographic Citation:
Walters, Catherine. When Will it be Spring? New York, NY: Dutton Children's Books, 1997. 32 p. ISBN 978-0525458814.

Awards/Selection Lists:

None

Format Examined:
Hard cover

Annotation:

Alfie is a bear cub who doesn't want to go to sleep for the winter until he knows when spring will come. 

Personal Reaction:

Alfie's story is one that resonates with parents of children who do not want to go to bed at night. Changes in weather from fall, to winter, to spring, are taught through Alfie's experiences as he waits for spring to come. Children also learn about hibernation as Alfie's mother attempts to get Alfie to hibernate with her through the winter months. Alfie learns to be patient just in time for spring, and then falls asleep.

Age Recommendation:
I would recommend this book for children 3-5 years of age.

Themes/Issues:
Seasons, hibernation, bears, patience/waiting

Early Literacy Skill Value:

Letter Knowledge: 
Letter knowledge is not a direct focus of this book.

Narrative Skills: 
Children are encouraged to help tell the story through recognition of illustrations of familiar seasonal settings.

Phonological Awareness: 
Phonological awareness is not a direct focus of this book.

Print Awareness:
The text of the things that Alfie thinks he sees is printed in all capital letters in order to connect to the illustrations on the page. This draws a child's attention to the print on the page.

Print Motivation: 
This book offers an enjoyable story that children will enjoy hearing every year as they wait for spring to arrive. The illustrations are soft and subtle, and Alfie's confusion provides the opportunity for children to arrive at the correct answers before Alfie does.

Vocabulary:
Children are encouraged through the text to learn about hibernation, as well as to identify what animals and climate changes are a part of the seasons.



Author/ Illustrator Website:
No official website